Financial Advice for Youth

What is LILA?

It’s a route into bankruptcy for Scottish residents. If you don’t qualify for bankruptcy because your lenders haven’t started legal action against you, LILA could give you another way in.

LILA stands for Low Income, Low Assets – because it’s only available to people who are on a low income and have few assets to put towards their debts.

Do I qualify for LILA bankruptcy?

To qualify, you must meet the following criteria:

You must earn no more per week than the standard national minimum wage for a forty-hour working week – currently £237.20.

You must have no assets worth more than £1,000 individually, and combined assets worth no more than £10,000.

If you receive income-based jobseekers’ allowance, income support or working tax credits, these won’t be included in the assessment of your weekly income, even if you’re actually earning more than £237.20 a week in total.

Is it right for me?

It all depends on your circumstances. Bankruptcy can be the best option for some people, but it’s often considered a last resort for struggling borrowers. There may be other solutions available that are more appropriate for your situation.

Final points

Although LILA could really help if you don’t qualify for bankruptcy by normal means, you must remember that bankruptcy will have a significant impact on your credit rating. This could make borrowing money very difficult for six years after your bankruptcy order is issued.